The prevalence of sedentary behavior among university students in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: A considerable body of research has demonstrated that reducing sitting time benefits health. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the prevalence of sedentary behavior (SB) and its patterns. METHODS: A total of 6975 university students (49.1% female) were chosen randomly to participate in a face-to-face interview. The original English version of the sedentary behavior questionnaire (SBQ) was previously translated into Arabic. Then, the validated Arabic version of the SBQ was used to assess SB. The Arabic SBQ included 9 types of SB (watching television, playing computer/video games, sitting while listening to music, sitting and talking on the phone, doing paperwork or office work, sitting and reading, playing a musical instrument, doing arts and crafts, and sitting and driving/riding in a car, bus or train) on weekdays and weekends. RESULTS: SBQ indicated that the total time of SB was considerably high (478.75 ± 256.60 and 535.86 ± 316.53 (min/day) during weekdays and weekends, respectively). On average, participants spent the most time during the day doing office/paperwork (item number 4) during weekdays (112.47 ± 111.11 min/day) and weekends (122.05 ± 113.49 min/day), followed by sitting time in transportation (item number 9) during weekdays (78.95 ± 83.25 min/day) and weekends (92.84 ± 100.19 min/day). The average total sitting time of the SBQ was 495.09 ± 247.38 (min/day) and 58.4% of the participants reported a high amount of sitting time (≥ 7 hours/day). Independent t-test showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between males and females in all types of SB except with doing office/paperwork (item number 4). The results also showed that male students have a longer daily sitting time (521.73 ± 236.53 min/day) than females (467.38 ± 255.28 min/day). Finally, 64.1% of the males reported a high amount of sitting time (≥ 7 hours/day) compared to females (52.3%). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the total mean length of SB in minutes per day for male and female university students was considerably high. About 58% of the population appeared to spend ≥7 h/day sedentary. Male university students are likelier to sit longer than female students. Our findings also indicated that SB and physical activity interventions are needed to raise awareness of the importance of adopting an active lifestyle and reducing sitting time.

Utility of Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity for Tracking the Arterial Response to Prolonged Sitting.

Background: Arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is a purported mechanism linking sedentary behavior to cardiovascular disease. This secondary analysis compared associations between measured carotid−femoral PWV (cfPWV) and carotid−radial (crPWV) responses to an acute bout of prolonged sitting with mathematically estimated cfPWV (ePWV). Methods: Overweight/obese adults with elevated blood pressure were enrolled (n = 25; 42 ± 12 yrs; 64% males). Participants performed an 8 h simulated workday of mostly sitting. cfPWV and crPWV were measured while supine in the morning, midday, and afternoon. ePWV was calculated at the same timepoints using age and seated mean arterial pressure (MAP). Pearson correlation coefficients associated ePWV with cfPWV and crPWV. Generalized linear models separately examined the effects of time on cfPWV, crPWV, and ePWV. Results: ePWV significantly associated with cfPWV and crPWV (r = 0.69 and 0.55, respectively; p < 0.05) in the morning (baseline). cfPWV significantly increased over time (ß = 0.52 ± 0.20 and 0.48 ± 0.21 with and without MAP adjustment, respectively; p < 0.05). In contrast, ePWV and crPWV did not significantly increase overtime (ß = 0.14 ± 0.09 and 0.25 ± 0.23, respectively; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that, although ePWV is associated with cfPWV and crPWV at a fixed timepoint, ePWV responds differently to prolonged sitting and likely does not capture the same acute vascular responses.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Primary School Children in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Association with Parents' Behaviors.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a few studies used accelerometers to assess physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior in the family context. This study aimed to assess children and parents' moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time, as well as their relationship in MVPA and sedentary time. Data were collected from 30 parent-child dyads during the COVID-pandemic for seven days, using a hip-worn accelerometer. Children and parents engaged in 65.6 and 34.6 min/day in MVPA and 442.2 and 427.9 min/day sedentary, respectively. There was no evidence of gender difference in MVPA and sedentary between boys and girls. Male parent spent more time in MVPA than female parents. A total of 50% of children and 53.3% of parents met the recommended PA. Children's MVPA and sedentary time were both correlated with that of their parents. Adjusted linear regression showed that only child MVPA was negatively associated with their parents' MVPA. There is evidence that multi-level interventions involving parents and children are more effective than interventions focusing on a single group. This study also provides evidence to support the link between MVPA and sedentary time between parents and children. Generalization of the findings is difficult due to the bias of self-selection sample.

Joint consensus statement of the Saudi Public Health Authority on the recommended amount of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep duration for healthy Saudis: Background, methodology, and discussion.

The Saudi Public Health Authority recently prepared a Consensus Statement regarding how much time a person should spend engaged in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep to promote optimal health across all age groups. This paper describes the background literature, methodology, and modified RAND Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-ADOLOPMENT approach that guided the development process. A Leadership Group and Consensus Panels were formed, and credible existing guidelines were identified. The Panel identified clear criteria to choose the best practice guidelines for the set objectives after evaluation, based on GRADE table evidence, findings table summaries, and draft recommendations. Updating of the selected practice guidelines was performed, and the Consensus Panels separately reviewed the evidence for each behavior and decided to adopt or adapt the selected practice guideline recommendations or create de novo recommendations. Data related to cultural factors that may affect the studied behaviors, such as prayer times, midday napping or "Qailulah," and the holy month of Ramadan, were also reviewed. Two rounds of voting were conducted to reach a consensus for each behavior.

The recommended amount of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep duration for healthy Saudis: A joint consensus statement of the Saudi Public Health Authority.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the 24-h Movement Practice Guidelines for Saudi Arabia is to provide policymakers, health-care providers, researchers, sports professionals, and members of the public with recommendations on the duration of time they should spend engaged in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep throughout all age groups. METHODS: A modified RAND appropriateness method and the "GRADE-ADOLOPMENT" approach of guideline recommendations were used by a guideline development panel to develop the present recommendations. RESULTS: The recommendations were based on the integrated needs of the following age groups: children (0-2 years), preschoolers (3-5 years), children and adolescents (6-17 years), adults (18-64 years), and older adults (≥65 years). The guidelines also include special considerations for sleep duration in the Saudi culture, such as dawn prayer and Ramadan. CONCLUSIONS: Several research gaps in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep were identified and highlighted by the guideline development panel for potential future research.

Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time with Metabolic Syndrome in Saudi Adult Males.

PURPOSE: The association between objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been rarely investigated in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the current study was to examine the association of objectively measured sedentary, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with MetS among Saudi adult males. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study participants were 103 males from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (mean age = 54.9 ± 10.6 years). Metabolic syndrome was defined based on having three or more of cardiometabolic risk factors. Triaxial accelerometers were used to measure the time spent on sedentary and physical activities across 7 days. A minimum four days with ≥10 hours of wearing time per day were considered a valid data. Binary logistics regression models were performed to examine the association of sedentary and physical activity levels with MetS vs no MetS. Model 1 was unadjusted, models 2, 3, and 4 were mutually controlled for sedentary, light, and MVPA intensities. RESULTS: About 38% of males in the present study were classified as having MetS as demonstrated by a significant (p<0.05) decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and a significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure, glucose, and triglycerides compared to those without MetS. In addition, low levels of LPA (less than 6.3 hours per day) were significantly associated with the risk of having MetS, independent of sedentary and MVPA (odds ratio (OR) 4.26-6.96). The results showed that the associations between sedentary tertiles and MetS were not statistically significant. Levels of MVPA were also not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing MetS in all models. CONCLUSION: This study showed that low levels of LPA were significantly associated with the risk of having MetS in Saudi males from Riyadh city, independent of MVPA and sedentary time. The results suggest that future intervention studies should assess the positive effect of increasing levels of LPA in reducing the risk of developing MetS in males.

Sarcopenia Coexisting with High Adiposity Exacerbates Insulin Resistance and Dyslipidemia in Saudi Adult Men.

OBJECTIVE: The associations between sarcopenia, adiposity indices and metabolic dysregulation still remain controversial. We aimed to assess and compare insulin resistance and metabolic profile in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic obese Saudi adult men. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted at the College of Sports Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh. We recruited 312 Saudi adult male individuals and 288 were finally selected for the study. Body composition analysis and hand grip strength (HGS) were estimated by bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and dynamometer in all subjects, respectively. Fasting blood samples were collected for glucose (FBG), basal insulin (BI) and lipid profile. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the body composition parameters, appendicular lean mass (ALM) and body fat percentage (BF%), into non-obese (NonOb) [Normal ALM+<25 BF%], obese without sarcopenia (ObNonS) [Normal ALM+>25 BF%] and obese with sarcopenia (ObS) [Low ALM+>25 BF%]. RESULTS: Obese subjects had significantly higher BI, HOMA-IR and HOMA-ß compared to non-obese. Moreover, comparison between two obese groups revealed that both BI and HOMA-IR levels were higher in ObS subjects compared to ObNonS individuals revealing that sarcopenia exacerbates the insulin resistance profile. There was a significant trend of higher resistance and lower sensitivity from non-obese to obesity with sarcopenia. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were significantly higher and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower in sarcopenic obese subjects compared to non-sarcopenic obese individuals. The worsening effects were more significant at cutoff point of 7.46 on insulin indices and lipid profile showing that sarcopenia associated with obesity exacerbates the dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that obesity associated with sarcopenia exhibits significantly greater insulin resistance and dyslipidemia than sarcopenia or obesity per se. Therefore, sarcopenic obesity might be an independent risk factor for metabolic disease progression.

Impact of Acute Eccentric versus Concentric Running on Exercise-Induced Fat Oxidation and Postexercise Physical Activity in Untrained Men.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed at comparing the rate of exercise-induced fat oxidation and postexercise free-living physical activity after constant-load flat running (FR) and downhill running (DHR) bouts at an intensity that elicited maximal fat oxidation. METHODS: Participants were 11 healthy untrained men (mean age 25.6 ± 3.3 years; VO2max39.11 ± 8.05 ml/kg/min). The study included four visits. The first two visits determined the intensity of maximal fat oxidation during incremental FR and DHR tests. The second two visits involved constant-load FR or DHR at the intensity that elicited maximal fat oxidation in a counterbalanced order separated by two weeks. Gas exchange analysis was used to measure substrate oxidation during all exercise sessions. Sedentary time and physical activity were measured using ActiGraph triaxial accelerometers for three days including the day of exercise tests (the second day). RESULTS: During the incremental exercise tests, fat oxidation was significantly greater during the first stage of FR (P < 0.05) but started to increase during the fourth stage of DHR, although this did not reach significance. Of the 11 participants, 7 had greater fat oxidation during DHR. During continuous constant-load running, fat oxidation was higher during DHR than FR but at only two stages was either significant or borderline significant, and the time/group interaction was not significant. There was no significant effect on sedentary time of time/group interaction (P = 0.769), but there was a significant effect of time (P = 0.005), and there was no significant effect on total physical activity of time/group interaction (P = 0.283) or time (P = 0.602). CONCLUSION: Acute aerobic eccentric exercise at an intensity eliciting maximal fat oxidation enhanced exercise-induced fat oxidation without worsening postexercise free-living physical activity, indicating it could be a useful training modality in weight management programs.

Effects of Nutrient Intake on Diagnostic Measures of Sarcopenia among Arab Men: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Sarcopenia is a major public health condition and is, therefore, of great clinical interest. However, the role of nutrient intake in sarcopenia is unclear. We examined the associations between nutrient intake and diagnostic measures of sarcopenia, including low muscle mass (appendicular lean mass (ALM) divided by height squared, ALM/h2) and strength (hand-grip strength, HGS) among Arab men. This cross-sectional study included 441 men aged 46.8 ± 15.98 years. Habitual nutrient intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants were classified according to different ALM/h2 and HGS reference values. Participants with normal muscle mass, defined by an ALM/h2 cutoff of <8.68 kg/m2 (-1 standard deviation (SD)

Contribution of Physical Education to the Daily Physical Activity of Schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia.

The positive contribution of physical education (PE) to daily physical activity (PA) has been documented in past studies. However, little is known about the contribution of PE to inactive and unfit schoolchildren's PA. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the contribution of PE to the daily PA of schoolchildren, especially for inactive and unfit schoolchildren. Accelerometers were used to measure the PA of 111 boys (Mage = 13.6 0.8 years) across 7 days. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was measured during PE classes and on school days with and without PE classes. To measure the time that schoolchildren spent on MVPA, the accelerometer count (i.e., 2296 counts/minute) was used. Schoolchildren spent 22% of PE class time in MVPA. Times spent in MVPA were 12.9, 14.7 and 14.8 minutes higher on PE days than on days without PE for all, inactive, and unfit schoolchildren, respectively. Results showed that 40% percent and 24% of the schoolchildren met the recommended levels of PA on PE days and days without PE, respectively. It is concluded that, since PE classes increase daily engagement in MVPA, especially among inactive and unfit schoolchildren, PE classes should be conducted on all school days.